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Considering the times and the culture, amazingly it was the women, not the men, who stood on the outside looking in that morning. Looking for their Jesus. At that moment of sorrow, not remembering the words of the Master, that having once been crucified, He would be raised again on the third day. Wow! Can you imagine how those women, who were wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, followers, felt standing there at His grave? It must have been a flood of feelings and memories. So they did what they did best. They talked. They didn’t phone, e-mail, text, facebook status or tweet. They went to the disciples and the others, one by one or as a group and spread the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and fulfillment of his promise. The women came prepared to care for Jesus with their spices, their grief and their hearts. They left to rejoice and tell everyone the good news. Have you ever done that? Viewed a situation as the glass half empty and then looked at it from a different perspective and seen the glass as half full because you remembered a truth? I have. My husband had some serious health issues and multiple surgeries with a dire prognosis shortly after we married. For a while I saw the glass as totally empty and wondered, why him, why me Lord, after waiting all these years? It isn’t fair. (There’s that pesky “it’s all about me” syndrome again.) Then I remembered, God is in control. Jesus, the great Healer, will care for us. So I talked too. I told everyone I knew, from that day forward, how He worked in our lives and continues to grow us through trials and blessings. He is Risen. Will you do that too? Talk and share the good news of the hope and grace of Jesus?
As an update, shortly after I sent this feedoneanother message in, we found out that my husband has another benign tumor growing in his brain. He has had 13 brain surgeries previously in his life. The message was that he needs to go see the neurosurgeon again. and you know what surgeons do…..So, the moment of truth is upon us. Can we walk our talk and trust in Jesus to hold us in His hands? Can our faith overcome our fear? I pray that is so. It’s definitely easy to talk about it when you are not right in the middle of a “trial.” I choose to try really hard to trust in my Lord. He alone knows what is best and He will sustain us. We appreciate your prayers too.
We’ll be praying too. I would also like to ask prayer for the Calhouns our missionaries in Greece. They are stuck in
Turkey on a visa visit because the ferry they have to take won’t run in ruff seas. Pray the sea will calm and they can get back. Also pray for them as they gear up for the Summer minisrties while Mary is preparing to have their third child next month. They have some major changes coming and need our prayers.
Carol – What courage you and Cameron have… I will be praying.
Carole, I am praying for you and Cameron today.
Dear Carole,
I too am praying for you and your husband. Just recently God showed me a passage I had quoted many times but did not fully understand. God says if we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains. I took it literally. It wasn’t until recently that God showed me what the mountains are. They are the circumstances and difficulties we face daily. Talk to the mountain you face right now – fear. Claim God’s promise over it, that He did not give us a mind of fear but a sound mind of truth. Also claim God’s peace, a peace which passes all understanding. I have already claimed this for you and your husband and will continue to do so. God bless both of you.
Carole, Thanks for sharing some of your life, faith and wisdom with us. I’m so grateful to have you as a close friend! Friendship and relationships like ours, to me, is part of the abundant life He promises us when we allow Him to guide us. You and Cam are an inspiration to us all and a blessing to my life. Ok, enough of the mushy stuff…..
Today’s scripture and comments made me think of how excited they must have been. Can you imagine being right there and experiencing first hand the joy, the relief, the delight in knowing Jesus has risen to be with the Father? It must have been bubbling out of them. I can see them now running, skipping, jumping for joy back into town. Their skirts kicking up and head coverings falling off. Probably looked like kinda odd behavior for women of that era, ya think? Anyway, I can only hope to have some of that look of excitement in my eyes and my actions when I speak to others. I’m not one to start-up a conversation with someone in line at the grocery store by saying, “So how’s your relationship with Jesus Christ?” But what I hope I can do someday is to have that excitement within me so that people immediately see I have something good going on inside of me. From there maybe a conversation about the risen Jesus and then let Him do the rest.
I love you, my dear sister! And I love Cam too! Yes, it is so much easier to “talk the walk and walk the talk” when the mountains are not in our face… you are right, fear and “it’s all about me” set in and loom as big as the mountains. It is faith and believing that bring the mountains down to just rolling hills. Take one day at a time and trust Him one day at a time. He will not give us more than we can handle, He has promised us that. Just like the woment that morning at the tomb. On the way there they only saw the mountain that Jesus was dead, when they got there the mountain was gone! Jesus was alive!
Thanks Carole for your words. Our prayers are with you and Cam.
I think how strong these women had to be to come out and speak to men of what they saw. Knowing that you would probably be dismissed as crazies. How many times do we not speak up because we might looked at as one of those crazy Christians. I know I have too many times.
Carole, your insights are thought provoking and joyous all at the same time. God is with you, there is no mountain to tall or valley too low for you to have safe passage with Him by your side. Memories of 6 years ago loom over me, we shared that time together, and together we prayed, God answered, and we are now here today. Know that the thousands of members of prayer chains around the world are praying for you and Cam. May this current matter be faced boldly as Jesus modeled for us during this same week just less than 2000 years ago. May we find strength, wisdom, and peace in His love for us. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
“So they did what they did best. They talked. They didn’t phone, e-mail, text, facebook status or tweet. They went to the disciples and the others, one by one or as a group and spread the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and fulfillment of his promise. The women came prepared to care for Jesus with their spices, their grief and their hearts.”
I love these lines that the Lord gave you to write. We all need to be much more personal in our communication in this electronic age.Then the last line they “came prepared”. I need to come prepared more often to meet the Lord no matter what I have at the time to give.
I am continuing to pray for you and Cam. It is a joy to have you at CCC.
Carole,
Thank you for sharing with us, my heart and prayers are with you. I really needed to read what you wrote, I struggle with seeing the glass half empty sometimes, your faith reminds me to take another look.
Carole -
Reading all the comments from your journal entry today… because I was out of town this past week. Wow. God really is using you, Cam, and your situation. People really were feeding one another here. Thanks so much.
Careole, beautiful thoughts! You know that you and Cam are in our prayers, but today I feel the joy of Easter! He is Risen! I feel grateful that it was the women who “spread the news!” Someone sent me something last night that I found interesting and did not know. If you recall the Bible says, the burial clothes were pushed aside, but the napkin covering His face was folded and laid at the top. In those days, apparently, if someone was finished with their meal, they tossed the napkin aside. If they were coming back, they folded it neatly on the table. YES!!! He is coming back!! Praise God!